Control device



C. E. BAZLEY CONTROL DEVICE `lam. 25, 1949.

Filed Aug. A24, 1945 @blow W Fig-4.

Fig. 5.

Inventor: Carl Efaze by His Attonev.

Patented Jan. 25, 1949 coN'rnor. DEVICE Carl E. Barley, Schenectady, N. Y., assigner to General Electric Com New York pany, a corporation of Application August 24, 1945, Serial No. 612,493

s claims. l

' having a substantially uniform viscosity over wide ranges of temperature.

I arrange a quantity of this plastic material in a container, together with a plunger which for a time delay action moves into the plastic material so as to de-form it whereby the movement of the plunger is delayed. The plunger maybe withdrawn quickly for return movement after which the plastic vmaterial is-re-formed by suitable spring compression means.

For a more complete understanding of my invention reference should be had to the accom panying drawing Fig. 1 of which is a front elevational view of an electromagnetically operated velectric switch or relay provided with time delay means embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the time delay means shown in Fig. l; while Figs. '3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 2 showing different stages in the operation oi the time delay device.

Referring tothe drawing, I have shown my invention in one form as applied to an electromagnetically operated switch or relay comprising an electromagnet having a. magnet core i, a plunger armature 2, and an operating coil 3.

y Secured to the magnet frame l made of magnet core iron is an enclosure t containing a switch arm i biased by a spring 6 to its pivot i to a closed circuit position in engagement with stationary contact d. At its lower end the switch arm has a projection s in position to be engaged by a projection iii on the plunger armature 2 when the plunger moves upward to its attracted position upon energization of the coil.

In accordance with my invention I provide a time delay device II having a plunger I2 whose upper end is connected by means of a link I3 to the armature 2. The plunger I2 as shown in Fig. 2 extends into a cylindrical container I4 containing a quantity of a suitable plastic material I5 having the property of substantially uniform viscosity over wide ranges of temperatures. The plunger I2 has a diameter which is only a fraction of the diameter of the container I4, the plunger being held in axial concentric relation with the container by means of a bushing I6 secured to the top of the container. As shown the container I4 is mounted at its lower end on a Ipivot ISa to provide if required a slight rocking motion.

When the armature 2 is in its lowermost position as shown in Fig. 1, the plunger I2 extends downward for a substantial distance into the plastic material as shown in Fig. 2, whereby the plastic material is displaced by the plunger and forced upward and around theplunger into the space between the plunger and the container Il.

For the purpose of re-forming the plastic material when the plunger is withdrawn by upward movement. I provide a piston I'I having a substantially close sliding ilt in the bore of the container Il. This piston is provided with a central opening whose wall forms a close sliding ilt with the plunger, this .wall being extended by a guide ilange I8 surrounding the plunger.

By means oi a helical spring i9 in the chamber I6 having its upper end bearing against the bushing I6 and its lower end bearing on the piston I1, the'plunger is biased downward with a predetermined force against the plastic material.

In the operation of the device, when the coil V is energized, the armature 2 and the plunger i2 are moved quickly upward until the armature reaches its attracted position. During this movement the plunger i2 is withdrawn from the plastic material, as indicated in Fig. 3, and the switch arm 5 is moved clockwise by the projection I@ to its open circuit position. l

Upon withdrawal of the' plunger I2 to the position indicated in Fig. 3, the pressure exerted by the spring I S on the plastic material forces the material quickly into the space 20 left by the plunger, the piston il being forced downward by the spring. The parts quickly assume their relative positions shown in Fig. 4 with the plastic material completely re-formed and lled in below the lower end of the plunger I2.

A time interval or time delay is now obtained in the movement of the switch arm il to its closed circuit position when the coil 3 is deenergized. Upon the deenergization of the coil, the amiature 2 and the plunger I2 are moved downward by a predetermined force consisting of the weight of the moving parts and the downward force applied by a helical biasing spring 2I surrounding the plunger I2. As shown, the upper end of the spring 2| rests against a stationary member 22 having an aperture whose walls form a guide for the plunger I2, while its lower end engages a flange 23 on the plunger I2. The combined weight of the armature andl other parts and the biasing force of the spring 2| are so related to the viscosity of the plastic material as to give a desired time interval.

As the plunger I2 moves into the plastic material it displaces the plastic material which is caused to flow upward around the plunger, thereby raising the piston Il against the force of the i spring I9. Finally, the plunger reaches its lowermost position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the head of the plunger I2 resting on the member 22. At some time during this downward movement of the plunger when the plunger reaches a predetermined position, the switch arm 5 engages the stationary contact 8 a predetermined time interval after the deenergization of the coil 3.

As a plastic material I having a substantially uniform viscosity over wide ranges of temperature, I use a kneadable cold-flowing composition having a high degree of bounce, i. e., being elastic under impulsive force, said composition comprising a heat reaction product of a dimethyl silicone oil and a minor proportion of a boron compound containing both boron and oxygen and, if desired, a filler and a hydrophilic material or a. hydrophobie material, or both. Such a material is described and claimed in a copending application, Serial No. 569,647, filed on December 23, 1944, by James G. E. Wright, for Composition of matter, which application is assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

A preferred formula for the plastic material i5 for general purposes is as follows: A mixture of 500 parts of dimethyl silicone, 35 parts pyroboric acid made by heating boric acid to 150 degrees C. for 2 hours and grinding the product,v

and 5 parts ferric chloride hexahydrate is heated to 150 degrees with constant stirring. At the end of about six hours the mixture becomes still. It may then be placed in an oven and heated for an additional 18 hours. With a powerful stirrer which scrapes well the interior surface of the reacting vessel, the whole operation may be completed in the original vessel and in a shorter time. Different size batches may require different treat- 4 in said container, said plastic material flowing under pressure and being elastic under impulsive ments depending upon the size of the vessel, the

shape, whether shallow or deep, and the rate and manner of stirring. Small variations in the properties may be compensated for by using varying amounts of oleic acid and glycerine. Usually, both are desirable for an accurate adjustment of the properties. About 15 per cent of a filler, such as lithopone gives a final product strongly resembling ordinary window putty invappearance. The softer grades of the compositions will tolerate as much as 50 per cent of filler without substantial alteration of their elastic and plastic properties.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover any 1. In combination, a container, a quantity of cold flowing solid plastic material having a high degree of bounce in said container, a member mounted for movement into said plastic material whereby said material is deformed and the movement of said member is delayed by reason of the viscosity of said material, and means for applying a pressure to said material to re-form it after said member is moved out of said material.

2. A time delay device comprising a container, a quantity of a plastic material in said container, said plastic material comprising a heat reaction product of dimethyl silicone oil and a boron compound, a plunger mounted for movement into said plastic material whereby said material' is deformed and the movement of said member is delayed by reason of the viscosity of said material, and means applying a pressure to said material to re-form it upon withdrawal of said plunger.

3. A time delay device comprising a container, a quantity of cold flowing solid plastic material force, a plunger mounted for movement into said plastic material whereby said material is deformed and the movement of said member is delayed by reason of the viscosity of said material, means for applying a predetermined force to said plunger thereby to move said plunger into said material to a predetermined position in a predetermined time, and means applying a pressure to said material to re-form it quickly upon withdrawal of said plunger.

4. A time delay device comprising a container, a quantity of cold flowing solid plastic material in said container, said plastic material flowing under pressure and being elastic under impulsive force, a plunger extending into said container movable into said plastic material, said plunger having a diameter smaller than said container to provide for the flow of said plastic material into the space between said plunger and said container when said plunger is forced into said material whereby said material is deformed and the movement of said plunger delayed by the viscosity of said material, a piston in said container, and a spring in said container applying a force holding said piston against said plastic material thereby to re-form quickly said plastic material when said plunger is withdrawn.

5. A time delay device comprising a cylindrical container, a quantity of cold flowing solid plastic material in said container, said plastic material flowing under pressure and being elastic under impulsive force, a plunger extending into said container, said plunger having a diameter much smaller than said container to provide for the flow of said plastic material into the space betweensaid plunger and said container when said plunger is forced into said material whereby the said material is deformed, a piston in said container provided with a central aperture through which said plunger extends, and a spring in said container applying a force to move said piston against said plastic material thereby to re-form quickly said plastic material when said plunger is withdrawn.

6. In combination, a container, a quantity of cold flowingsolid plastic material in said container, said plastic material iiowing under pressure and being elastic under impulsive force, a plunger having a cross sectional area smaller than the internal cross sectional area ofl said container, means mounting said plunger for movement into said plastic material, said move ment causing said material to flow around said plunger and assume an abnormal shape, and spring means for deforming said plastic material.

CARL E. BAZLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile'of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,359,917 Hussman Oct. 10, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 455,841 Great Britain Oct. 28, 1936 467,281 France -..June 8, 1914 670,589 France Nov. 30, 1929 

